ST. PETER MOVES AHEAD

The 2013-14 school year got off to a good start at St. Peter Cathedral School, Principal Mary Gibson said. The school, 160 W. 11th St., is continuing a professional development effort with Gannon University that has college professors and students learning and helping in St. Peter classrooms.The school also is awaiting the arrival of 30 new Apple iPads for its updated technology lab, Gibson said.Enrollment is down to about 210 students in preschool through eighth grade, she said.She referred questions about an Internal Revenue Service tax lien to diocesan officials, saying only, "We're looking forward, we're moving ahead. This school is on solid footing."Earlier this year, the IRS filed a $301,375 lien against the school for back taxes. Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico said in April that the taxes were paid with the help of donors but interest and penalties were being discussed and an audit was continuing.He said this week the matter was being wrapped up and he should have a report for parishioners in the near future.-- Dana Massing

Sister Kevin Berdis, principal of Holy Family School, helps first grader Raymond Simmons, 6, of Erie, with a spelling question in class at the parochial school in Erie on Sept. 11. ANDY COLWELLERIE TIMES-NEWS

"Kids feel safe here," Berdis said. "There are no issues, no fighting. Everyone's working. They have a job to do and they know that."

Families continue to buy in to that philosophy. Enrollment at Holy Family has been holding steady. Official school enrollment for the entire Catholic Diocese of Erie won't be available until October. But the diocese is projecting a drop of 1 to 2 percent from 2012, when the diocese enrolled 7,282 students in kindergarten through eighth grade throughout 13 counties.

The expected drop is despite an influx at some diocesan schools, prompted by recent school closings in both the Erie and Millcreek districts, said the Rev. Nicholas Rouch, vicar of education.

Holy Family, 1153 E. Ninth St., the only Catholic school on the east side of the inner city, stands apart in its demographics: The majority of students there are minorities and most are receiving free or reduced-price lunches. Many do not attend Holy Family Catholic Church and have no connection to the parish, Our Mother of Sorrows, or to the faith at all.

Those might seem like challenges. But Holy Family is hanging on to its students -- 118 in preschool through eighth grade, roughly the same as in 2012-13, Berdis said.

Many credit Berdis, who has led the school for the past 16 years with a warm but no-nonsense approach, for Holy Family's success.

"She is in many ways the heart and soul of the school," said the Rev. Jim O'Hara, pastor of the parish. "She is the Mother Superior. She is a graduate of Holy Family School, a life member of the parish, and she is just completely and totally dedicated to the existence of the school. I think she is largely responsible for what's happening here. She knows everybody. She knows all the families, the family history."

Berdis, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, is "very committed to those children, and that comes through," Rouch said. "She is part of the magic down there."

Berdis deflects any praise on to her team and her teachers. A runner who still competes in 5K races, she approaches her school leadership in the same way she does her sport.

"You have to be disciplined, No. 1. And you have to be motivated," Berdis said. "I bring that into my school and I expect that from my teachers. I feel like if there's an obstacle, we're going to go around it and go forward to reach our goal."

Berdis greets students personally at the door every morning, and she expects the same kind of respect from her students. Say "yes, sister," not "yeah." When someone says "good morning," reply. If that sounds harsh, she's also soft: When parents struggle to pay tuition, she works to find a way to help.

It's a structured, disciplined environment that children crave and parents want, Berdis said.

The question is how the success of some schools like Holy Family can be replicated.

Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico, who took over leadership of the diocese in 2012, said it has always had a strong education component.

"I think overall enrollment is holding," he said.

"I know many parishes are struggling to keep their schools going," Persico said. "And obviously this is an area we have to look at as we move forward with our strategic planning because I think, personally, Catholic schools are very important. I don't think people realize the importance of Catholic schools, because this is one way in which we transmit the faith."

A number of Catholic schools in Erie and other areas of the diocese have closed in recent decades. Asked if that trend would continue in the near future, Persico said, "I really can't answer that. I don't know."

But the bishop did say he didn't have any immediate plans to close any schools.

Berdis has faith that Holy Family will be able to keep its doors open.

"People don't know too much about us, but word of mouth is getting out there and I think we'll be OK," she said. "The Lord will watch over us and support us."

Berdis spent part of a recent morning speed walking through the halls. She threw classroom doors open and marched in with no notice, a ready smile across her face. Students immediately stood and greeted her in unison with "Good morning, Sister Kevin."

ERICA ERWIN can be reached at 870-1846 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNerwin.

DANA MASSING can be reached at 870-1729 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNmassing.

ST. PETER MOVES AHEAD

The 2013-14 school year got off to a good start at St. Peter Cathedral School, Principal Mary Gibson said. The school, 160 W. 11th St., is continuing a professional development effort with Gannon University that has college professors and students learning and helping in St. Peter classrooms.The school also is awaiting the arrival of 30 new Apple iPads for its updated technology lab, Gibson said.Enrollment is down to about 210 students in preschool through eighth grade, she said.She referred questions about an Internal Revenue Service tax lien to diocesan officials, saying only, "We're looking forward, we're moving ahead. This school is on solid footing."Earlier this year, the IRS filed a $301,375 lien against the school for back taxes. Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence Persico said in April that the taxes were paid with the help of donors but interest and penalties were being discussed and an audit was continuing.He said this week the matter was being wrapped up and he should have a report for parishioners in the near future.-- Dana Massing